Culture Shock in Abu Dhabi

The expat community accounts for nearly 80 percent of the UAE's population, and many foreigners that find their way to Abu Dhabi quickly slide into a fairly insular niche made up of those from home or those from places similar to home. Nonetheless, culture shock in Abu Dhabi is still a force to be reckoned with.
The UAE's capital city is bound by the same Muslim mandate present throughout the country and the greater Middle East, and expats will need to make sure they're familiar with local laws, customs and behaviour. Non-Muslims are not expected to comply with Islamic code, but they are obligated to respect it; which can certainly take some adapting to in its own right.

Dress and behaviour should be modest, buying and consuming alcohol requires a licence, and living together without being married, conducting adultery and homosexual behaviour are illegal in the UAE.

The multicultural mix that makes up Abu Dhabi means that expats are likely to interact with individuals from any number of cultures in a single day.

Call to prayer in Abu Dhabi

One of the biggest adjustments to life in Abu Dhabi is getting used to the five daily calls to prayer. Most mosques are co-ordinated, so there isn't the competing, full-on sort of call that happens in other countries. But it is loud, and everything else will almost certainly be interrupted. The congregational prayer (salat) that happens each Friday, at about noon, is considerably longer. The prayer can be heard on the street, in homes, at work, on the radio and on television, even in malls. For newcomers, it can be a stark and repeated reminder of their new surroundings.

A word about choosing lodgings in this respect: a mosque right next door can make for some very early mornings. That said, this being Abu Dhabi, there will always be a mosque nearby, so particularly light sleepers should try to choose housing as far away as possible.

Congestion in Abu Dhabi

It is very crowded in Abu Dhabi, especially over the weekends. For this reason expats may want to avoid malls and supermarkets on Fridays and Saturdays – they are busier than one may have ever imagined. If failing to heed this warning, expats might find themselves boxed in by shopping carts in a massive queue at the Lulu Hypermarket fruit counter, hyperventilating and wondering how so many people are able to fit in one store.

The city's buses, introduced in 2008, pass by almost comically, crammed to the max during rush hour when the streets are choked with traffic. Taxi queues at malls stretch on for more than an hour. Even the movie theatres and the food shops on the Corniche are mobbed. The best way to deal with it is to either plan outings strategically (mornings are best) or just to learn to breathe deeply and put up with it.

Emiratis in Abu Dhabi

There is an unofficial social structure in Abu Dhabi, and Emiratis are at the top. It's not unusual to be standing in a queue to order ice cream or buying a pair of shoes, only to find an Emirati has jumped to the front of the line and commanded the cashier or server's attention. It's also possible to be waiting in the heat for 15 minutes for a taxi and when one stops, the person who arrived seconds ago sweeps into it.

Men and women in Abu Dhabi

Men should not be surprised if women do not want to sit by them. Conversely, men will sometimes move away from women, out of respect for them. This frequently happens in movie theatres and airplanes. Western women who do not cover their shoulders may find men turning away from them; it has been explained that this is out of respect to the woman and not an act of judgement.

Ramadan in Abu Dhabi

A non-Muslim needs to be very careful during the holy month of Ramadan. In Abu Dhabi, most businesses and offices ban

eating and drinking at desks out of respect to those colleagues who are fasting. Some set up special rooms where food and drink can be consumed. Bars and restaurants will open at night and serve alcohol, but usually will not play any music. It is extremely important to remember not to eat, drink or smoke when out on the street or in one's car: the police keep watch and have handed out fines for doing so. It is also good to remember that fasting colleagues – even those on the road during the drive home – could be growing increasingly tired and irritable as they have not eaten or had a drink all day. People frequently leave on mini-breaks during Ramadan. So, keep in mind that some more conservative destinations, such as Oman, ban alcohol altogether during this time.